The ecology of ticks in the Tribec and Hronský Inovec Mountains.

Ecological studies on ticks are an essential part of epidemiological investigations on arbovirus infections. The paper deals with the distribution, bionomy, trophic relationships and rearing of ticks in the laboratory and refers to the role of Ixodes ricinus ticks as vectors of the tick-borne encephalitis virus. The ticks that are common to the region are I. ricinus, I. hexagonus, I. trianguliceps, Haemaphysalis concinna, H. punctata, H. inermis and Dermacentor marginatus. I. ricinus, which is very widely distributed, is the principal vector of tick-borne encephalitis. The hosts, both mammals and birds, of the different stages (larvae, nymphs and adults) of the ticks are listed.